Treasures of the Rare Books and Special Collections Library: Manuscripts

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Book of Hours. Use of Paris.
Paris. Circa 1460-1465.

A richly decorated manuscript of personal prayers, psalms and recitations
for use by the laity at the eight canonical hours of the day. The central
text of such manuscripts was the "Little Office of Our Lady" or, "The Hours
of the Virgin" and it is from this text that the boopk derives its name.
The accompaning illustrations, or miniatures, for this central text are taken
from the Christmas story though other decorations could be supplied for any
additional texts which may be included. In this volume for example a total
of some seventeen miniatures is to be found.

The style of decoration in these miniatures, and in the border decoration
which is to be found on almost every page, indicate that the work was produced
around 1460 in a workshop identified as that of the Master of the Horloge
de Sapience, probably for a female patron. The manuscript was certainly in
Paris by the early sixteenth century when it was in the possession of Sister
Anne la Routye, a nun of the Hostel of God.